UGOV Discernment History and Polity Teachers

March 5, 2010, Summary Finalized March 17, 2010

1. Want the Working Group to know:

• God calls us to make decisions and hold each other accountable –we need gatherings; then scatter in ways resourceful\productive encourage but hold accountable. Also need to think about the role and shape of meetings/gatherings.

• Current structure too fragmented and complicated, looking ahead need to be attentive to communication across settings.

• Want the working group to know there is an awareness that the details are not worked out yet.

• Unified Governance is more faithful to who we are – one church; also more efficient, but not the main reason to do it. Discernment of God’s movement call of church that is beyond money, efficiencies, governance - moving into new ways of gathering and communicating. Starting point is mission.

• Important to facilitate ecumenical vision

• This opens up more transparency, pleased with the tone of responsibility and accountability

• The core principles give a better sense that the endowments and mission legacies are held by the whole church; at the same time, some may be unclear what the historic mandates and legacies are to begin with

• One board serving 4 corporations – questions on this and comments follow:

- Balancing it all with constituencies\focused passion- Work load• - The efficiency is promising.

• Unified Governance is good and needed. Unfortunately, it has raised up\opened up much unresolved emotion concerning HUGS.

• Same issues seem to be named in each restructuring:

- Strengthen the President – how to do this while also responding to a collegium model which is also named- Growing size of governance group(s) is something to note.- Some sense dollars continue to drive decision, will be important to make the missional focus clear - Size of Unified Board will need to be clarified- Need to address/resolve tension re HUGS, representational models, new groups\people from (eg) new congregations- Fall 2008 proposal was a 20th century document, we need a new 21st century document- Look at congregation vs. corporate organization dilemma, be aware of the ambivalence about the location of mission and trust

• Collegium model of leadership what will it look like

• Autonomy- felt to be a negative word or at least one that needs reshaping. Should be used with covenant relationship responsibility. Is the word autonomy sacred• Are we willing to explore other words

• Three ministry groupings – does this mean that every board member will serve on one of those teams• Why three• What is that number related to•

2. God is us calling to be/vision for the UCC

• A prophetic voice • We think this should be the first question• More connected across settings, more responsive, engage together as networks• God is calling us to continue to plat a prophetic role vis-à-vis other denominations as well as to be in relationship with them.• How can we move into more of a covenantal relationship with other denominations• A particular role with UCC in the future.• Rebuild our churches, focus on new church development• Continue to model inclusivity rather than unanimity in all settings of the church• Continue engaging healing work, attend to leadership trust issues• Is the survival of the denomination going to overcome the vision• • We bring certain beliefs that are needed today.• Our covenanted polity is an important current balance to the polarization of our society.• Our ethos of welcome is essential, it is an alternative and needed voice in the world• God calling us to a flexible trustworthy and faithful • Finding ways to put our ethos into action• Be a bridge from the church that is to the church that is to be.